How to Use Your Phone Less
by Arden Martin
Do you want to spend less time on your phone, but struggle to actually put it down?
I recently made some simple changes that have significantly reduced the time I spend on my phone. As a result, I’m getting more done and enjoying life with fewer distractions.
Here’s what works for me:
Flip your phone over when you’re not using it. It sounds ridiculously simple, but I’m much more tempted to pick up my phone when I can see the screen.
Get another timepiece if you don’t have one already. Whether it’s a watch or a clock that’s easily visible, set yourself up with a phone-free way to know what time it is.
Identify what you actually want to spend your time doing, and set up visual cues to make those activities more accessible. I want to spend less time scrolling and more time reading actual books, so I create visually-pleasing displays of books I want to read around the house.
Assign your phone a “resting spot” and leave it there anytime you’re not using it (flipped over, of course!). This helps to break the habit of always having your phone nearby, and you’ll stop checking it unnecessarily. Try to find a resting spot that’s out of sight from your main space. My phone’s resting spot is in my bedroom, so it doesn’t distract me when I’m eating, hanging out with family, and simply living life.
Unsubscribe ruthlessly. If you’re always ignoring or deleting emails from a certain business or organization, take 10 seconds to unsubscribe and save yourself lots of future time and energy. You may feel a bit guilty, but you have no obligation to continue receiving emails you don’t read: Exercise your right to unsubscribe!
Let go of the “all or nothing” approach. Spending an entire day away from your phone may sound great in theory, but I find it much more doable to simply use my phone less each day — and it still makes a huge difference in my quality of life.
I hope this helps you spend less time swiping and scrolling, and more time living. Let me know which of these tips resonate, and share this post with friends and family who may find it helpful.